MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Billson
Australia is helping young leaders from the Asia Pacific make a positive contribution to regional relations, the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Bruce Billson, said today, announcing the winners of the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Leadership Awards.
'The Awards offer opportunities for talented postgraduate students from eligible countries to apply their new skills developed in Australia and prepare for leadership roles back home,' Mr Billson said.
The Awards are part of the 'Youth for the Future' initiative announced by the Prime Minister in 2002 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Brisbane.
'Youth for the Future aims to nurture the ability of young people by offering programs in enterprise, development, volunteering, mentoring and leadership,' Mr Billson said.
'Winners undertake a leadership and governance course at the National Centre for Development Studies at the Australian National University that examines effective leadership and management.
'The students study at Australian institutions on Australian Development Scholarships and a John Allwright Fellowship.
'Australian Government Scholarships provide students from developing countries the opportunity to have a positive impact on the relationship between their home country and Australia,' Mr Billson said.
'Students return home highly qualified with established relationships and an excellent understanding of Australia.
'Since 1996, more than 11,000 students from the Asia Pacific have graduated with Australian development assistance. Many now hold important positions in their respective countries including as government ministers and presidential advisers,' Mr Billson said.
Commonwealth Youth Leadership Award Winners 2004
- Shahana Parbeen (Bangladesh) - Masters in Business Administration at the University of Technology Sydney
- Aminath Shadiya (Maldives) - Masters of Management at Monash University
- Azra Naseem (Pakistan) - Masters in E-learning at the University of Technology Sydney
- Stanley Enn Alphonse (Papua New Guinea) - Masters in Commerce Finance at the University of Queensland
- Presley Yekanamiale Kokwaiye (Papua New Guinea) - Masters in Applied Science at the Australian Maritime College
Media inquiries:
Shane Fairlie (Mr Billson's office) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489